Current Affairs Preparation | UPSC Mains Answer Writing: Practice PDF Download

There isn’t a single best way to prepare for this exam, as mentioned in the Essay and GS chapters. The information in this chapter is based on personal experiences; readers are encouraged to choose what suits them best.  The individual read the newspaper thoroughly every day but avoided taking handwritten notes, believing it to be a waste of valuable time.  Instead, they discovered that making notes online was a more effective approach (this is discussed further in a later section). 

Five Principles for Comprehensive News Coverage

• As highlighted in the Essay and GS chapters, there’s no universally best method to prepare for this exam.
• The remainder of the chapter reflects the individual’s learnings, and readers are advised to adopt strategies that resonate with their preferences and convictions.
• For example, the individual read the newspaper meticulously every day but refrained from making handwritten notes, considering it a poor use of precious time.
• Instead, they found an efficient alternative in creating notes online (further details on this are provided later).

Principle 1: Limit Your Sources

Current Affairs can be challenging because there is so much material available to read. In the beginning, the person bought every resource they could find, thinking more books and magazines would lead to better results. Their desk was filled with CSR, Pratiyogita Darpan, EPW, Chronicle, Yojana, and other magazines. They bought these out of excitement, arranged them neatly, but hardly had time to read them. Over time, they learned that trying to read too much was not helpful. It is better to focus on a few good-quality materials instead of collecting too many.

Current Affairs Sources:

• The Hindu (One English Daily)
• Indian Express 'Explained Section' on their website (for a comprehensive understanding of an issue)
• One daily news compilation by any reputed institute
• One monthly news compilation by any reputed institute
• All India Radio— Spotlight and discussion
• Miscellaneous (RSTV’s Big Picture, India’s World, and PRS India)
• The Internet

Some aspirants spend excessive time searching for the 'best website' and 'best coaching material' for Current Affairs, neglecting actual reading. Others, with a perfectionist mindset, take excessive notes and compile information from numerous resources. It is advisable to avoid this approach. Spend a day researching, decide on your sources, and stick to them. That will be more than sufficient.

Principle 2: Limit Your Time

Many aspirants don’t ignore newspapers; they just give them too much importance. Some people spend almost 3-4 hours daily on newspapers, leaving little time for other subjects.

While newspapers are important, they should not take up too much time. From their experience, it is best to finish reading a day’s current affairs in under 2 hours. Spending 3-4 hours on daily current affairs is unnecessary and excessive.

Current Affairs Preparation Include:

• Newspaper Reading: 30-45 minutes daily, no note-making.
• Online Reading of Daily News Summaries: 45 minutes daily, highlighting and saving information on Evernote.
• Reviewing Last Week’s News: catching up on All India Radio selectively and conducting internet research on specific topics during weekends.
• Referring to a Monthly News Summary: at the end of the month.

Principle 3: Focus on Issues, Not News

News reports on a specific incident, while issues delve into broader ideas and concepts. To illustrate the difference, let’s consider a few examples.

• When the Prime Minister talks about the $5 trillion economy, it’s news. However, simply reporting on the speech isn’t enough. We need to explore the bigger picture. Why is the figure $5 trillion. Which sectors need focus? What actions should the government take? How can we speed up investment? What challenges are hindering the economy, and how can we overcome them to meet the government’s targets?
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on Kulbhushan Jadhav is news, but the underlying issue involves the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, the ICJ itself. its structure, mandate, and the process of case referrals, as well as India’s role in global forums.

Framework for Understanding Issues

• Reason: Why is this issue in the news? (This is usually found in news reports)
• Background Knowledge: What data, facts, or authentic reports are relevant?
• Current Status: What actions has the government taken or not taken regarding this issue?
• Both Sides of the Issue: What are the pros and cons, or opportunities and challenges?
• Opinion/Suggestions/Way Forward: What actions are necessary moving forward?

Principle 4: Learn to Make Notes Online

The individual never created handwritten notes for current affairs. Instead, they made notes online, which saved a lot of time. They read newspapers and used Evernote to capture and highlight daily news compilations provided by coaching institutes. A common question arises: Can newspapers be skipped entirely and only compilations be used? They recommend maintaining a balance between reading newspapers and compilations for the following reasons:

• Reading newspapers provides a clear summary of events, making the daily compilation easier to understand later.
• Reading the information twice (from the newspaper and compilation) helps with better retention.
• Current affairs questions in exams are often based on newspapers.
• Recurring issues in newspapers highlight important topics to focus on.
• Newspapers provide anecdotes and examples for essays, ethics, and interviews.
• Regular reading of an English newspaper improves vocabulary and writing subconsciously.

Principle 5: Read, Revise, and Execute

• The methods outlined can help capture 90-95% of current affairs relevant to the exam. Since current affairs keep evolving and accumulating daily, regular revision is essential. Incorporating current affairs into daily practice or test series also strengthens retention.
• Even a brief mention of a relevant current affairs issue can significantly improve the quality of an answer. The best approach is to revise current affairs immediately after studying the related static portion of a subject.
• For example, when preparing for a GS-2 mock test, revising the relevant current affairs section after completing the static topics helps create a connection between theory and real-world events, enhancing answer quality.
• It is normal not to recall all the current affairs during the exam, even after thorough reading and revision. Nobody can remember everything perfectly.
• While creating perfect notes or answers is challenging, the goal is to do your best and write the best possible answer within the time available.
• Trust your instincts, believe in yourself, and you may perform better than you expect.